Dramatic win for Audlem 2nd XI

Stone a stone's throw from safety

Audlem 2nd XI welcomed fourth-placed Stone to the Gorse Croft on a wet and blustery Sunday afternoon and a great game of cricket ensued.

Despite the horrendous forecast visiting skipper Andy Slee surprisingly invited the hosts to bat and initially was pleased with his decision. With six regulars missing, opener Andy Capper was very aware of the need for a solid start to the innings. He provided just that, eventually scoring his first run in the 11th over to a huge ovation from the dwindling crowd. This heralded a torrential downpour and the covers were eventually rushed (?) out to the wicket with the Audlem players demonstrating that their slick teamwork is strictly limited to cricket.

The covers did however do the job and as Capper couldn't face playing himself in for a second time he committed harakiri by walking down the wicket to allow a delighted wicketkeeper an unexpected stumping.

There then came two cameos from Mike Barlow and Paul Thorburn, with each respectively playing their signature shots -- booming cover drives and immaculately timed crisp drives through square leg -- before each departed for 19. This brought Atiq and skipper Chris Shenton to the wicket who started to demolish the young Stone attack before another hefty shower required an early tea. The youthful nature of the Stone team was demonstrated as the cakes and biscuits were the first things to go with most of the sandwiches left untouched.

Shenton and Atiq continued their assault after tea with Atiq dismissed for 43 and Shenton for an entertaining 38, not before running out Humphries who also contributed an attacking 18 runs but no longer has the pace to run two and stay in whilst his partner stands motionless at the other end.

As the innings came to a close North and Wainwright demonstrated that with the correct understanding it is possible even with their combined 134 years to scamper singles with the ball only yards from the bat.

The innings finished on 176-8 declared after 32 overs and the intricate nature of rain affected matches meant that Stone had 34 overs or until 8 o'clock to either win or lose the match.

This game also saw the welcome return of Lyndon Woodcock to the action, who, whilst not yet fit enough to bowl provided a reassuring presence at first slip in borrowed trousers that were several sizes too big for him.

Stone quickly lost 3 wickets to lively and accurate Simon Swift but as Shearing and Butters comfortably settled in they were confident that their batting through would mean victory for their team and quickly moved the score on to 83-3. Drinks, as ever, brought a break in concentration and Atiq's strategic long hop gave a brilliantly executed diving catch to Simon Swift lurking unnoticed under the tree at midwicket.

The black clouds all around and the rain clearly falling over Woore, Crewe and the Welsh mountains amazingly missed the Gorse Croft and Shearing and his young teammates settled down to preserve the draw. Humphries then bowled Shah for 8 and next ball had Titus Berendt caught behind, despite wanting to call him back as he couldn't face the pressure of securing a second Audlem hattrick in the month of July. Swift was still firing on all cylinders at the other end and Shenton's imaginative field placings paid off as he sharply caught Shearing for an excellent 54 at deep silly/short mid on.

This vital breakthrough brought skipper Slee and Titus' dad Anthony, the two elder statesmen of the side, together for the last wicket and to see out the innings. After a few overs of confidently blocking all they were sent down, they amazingly decided to go for an unnecessary quick single (feeling challenged by the North/ Wainwright example?). Berendt, sporting a more sober cap than the multi-coloured item he had fielded in, gobbled up the yards with BFG strides but forgot to ground his bat as Mike Barlow's brilliant throw shattered his stumps, despite slipping as he stooped to field the ball.

The time was 7 minutes to 8, 34.2 overs had been bowled and Stone were all out for 116. The accrued 25 points remarkably means that Audlem now sit on top of the league as most of the other matches were ruined by the rain.

Simon Swift finished with an impressive 6-47, Humphries 2-31, Atiq 1-19 and Mike Barlow also bowled but it was his spectacular direct hit that won a game that could easily have slipped away.

Wedgwood away next up on Sunday.

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